South Korea’s Hyundai says US car tariffs would harm security ties over North Korea

Hyundai vehicles are lined up in the company’s presentation area during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, US. (Reuters pic)

SEOUL: Hyundai Motor cautioned the US administration that imposing up to 25% tariffs on imported vehicles from South Korea would hurt a security alliance between the two countries over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

The tariffs would hike production costs at Hyundai’s US factory by about 10% and “jeopardize” its US investment plan, the top South Korean automaker said, echoing sentiments of other global carmakers such as BMW.

The United States in May launched an investigation into whether imported vehicles pose a national security threat and President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to quickly impose tariffs.

The tariffs “would be devastating to Hyundai Motor”, Hyundai said in comments to the US Department of Commerce late on Friday, according to a post on a US government website.

“Although the recent summit between the leadership of the United States and North Korea has decreased tensions in the region, it is still critical for the United States and Korea to act in unison in order to resolve the nuclear issue,” it said.

The auto sector accounted for 13% of total exports by South Korea, Asia’s fourth-biggest economy, in 2016.

Hyundai produces in the United States almost half of its vehicles sold in the country, while affiliate Kia makes in the United States about a third of its cars sold there.

Hyundai said its products are heavily focused on sedans, meaning its imports do not pose a threat to US automakers that concentrate more on large SUVs and pickups.

It also said Seoul has agreed in principle to revise a bilateral trade deal with Washington, addressing a US auto trade deficit with South Korea.

“Given these outcomes, which are unique among major automotive exporting nations, Korean automobile and auto part imports cannot be a threat to the US economy or national security,” Hyundai said in the comments.